Despite the cataclysmic predictions made by the hordes of talking heads within the mainstream media this week, our Constitutional Republic remains strong. On Monday, the People’s House began proceedings to kick off the 118^th Congress, and one of the first items on the agenda was the vote for Speaker of the House. By now, the American people have been bombarded with news reports and articles with eye-catching headlines that do little, if anything, to provide context about this vote and the history that is associated with it.

Since 1789, there have been 127 Speaker elections, and out of that total, 14 elections required multiple ballots until a Speaker was finally chosen. The process that occurred this week was not unprecedented, and history confirms this. Below are a handful of examples of Speakers throughout our history who were elected after numerous ballots were conducted:

• John W. Taylor, 16^th Congress, 22 ballots
• Philip Pendleton Barbour, 17^th Congress, 12 ballots
• Howell Cobb, 31^st Congress, 63 ballots
• Nathaniel Banks, 34^th Congress, 133 ballots
• William Pennington, 36^th Congress, 44 ballots

These five examples underscore a simple fact that continues to be glossed over by many: the United States remains a sovereign nation – it is governed by the American people who control their own affairs. The Founders understood that our sovereignty is secured by the will of the people – not by foreign entities or decrees from authoritarians. What we have seen this week is not only an example of our nation’s sovereignty on full display, but also the healthiness of our Constitutional Republic. It’s an exercise that reaffirms that We The People stand upon solid ground.

As my colleague Mike Gallagher (R-WI) said on the floor of the People House this week, “At the end of the day, the President is not in charge, the Supreme Court is not in charge, and the Speaker of the House is not in charge – the American people are in charge.” I agree. Yes, on the surface, these proceedings may seem raucous and chaotic, but our Constitutional Republic was not founded, or sustained over centuries, with ease.

My Latest Op-Ed

Attacks on parents are getting closer to home. From a woke education establishment to increasingly activist child protection agencies, parents are losing the right to decide how to raise their children. My new legislation, the Parental Right to Protect Act, will ensure parents aren’t expelled from their child’s life because they disagree with the left’s radical ideas on sex. More medical facilities are offering life-altering, non-reversible medical interventions for adolescents who believe they were born the wrong sex. Many parents are against these experimental surgeries and hormonal interventions because they know these treatments will cause irreparable physical and emotional harm to their young children.

To read my latest op-ed in The Federalist, click here.

New Scam Alert

Credit card skimming remains a pressing threat across North Carolina – from ATMs to gas stations to grocery stores. Over the past few months, numerous reports of credit card skimming have been reported across the state, and North Carolinians have had their hard-earned money stolen due to scammers who engage in this deceptive act. Just recently, in High Point, two credit card skimmers were found on different cash registers that were used by a variety of customers. For more tips on how to avoid these kinds of scams, click here.

Quote of The Week

“Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.”

-Alexander Hamilton

Have a blessed weekend,